The Phoenix

    Many ages had passed since the phoenix¹ had been seen in the World．At last he again appeared lmmediately all the different kinds of animals，both birds and beasts，flocked around him．Astonished at his beauty，they stared and admired，and broke out into great praise．But in a short time，the wisest and most prudent² amongst them began to look upon him with an eye of compassion，and they sighed：“O unhappy Phoenix！Fate has been hard to him．He has neither mate nor friend．He will never know the pleasure of loving，or being loved．”
    Exercises：
    回答下列问题：
    ①Why did all the different kinds of animals，both birds and beasts，flock around him？
    ②Why did some of them look down upon him？

1 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

2 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。